A SCREENPLAY OF VON STERNBERG'S THE EXQUISITE SINNER CO-WRITTEN BY...

Women in Film
A SCREENPLAY OF VON STERNBERG'S THE EXQUISITE SINNER CO-WRITTEN BY ALICE D.G. MILLER.
2 items:
1. VON STERNBERG, JOSEF, and ALICE D.G. MILLER. Mimeographed manuscript, "Escape" by Alden Brooks, approx. 40 pp, 4to, Culver City, CA, January 8, 1925, bound with brads and housed in MGM wrappers with printed label to upper cover, marked "file copy," chipping, wear and loss.

2. ORTH, MARION, and HARVEY GATES. Typed Carbon on onionskin, "The Exquisite Sinner," approx. 60 pp, 4to, Culver City, CA, December 12, 1925, bound with brads and housed in MGM wrappers with printed label to upper cover, stamped "file copy," chipping and loss. A later draft of the above, with significant changes.

Von Sternberg's movie The Exquisite Sinner was based on the novel Escape by Alden Brooks. This draft gives screenwriting credit to both von Sternberg and Alice D.G. Miller, though IMDB also notes that Joseph Farnum also shares credit for the final work.

Alice D.G. Miller (1894-1985) was a screenwriter active in Hollywood in the 1920s, less so after the advent of sound, though she continued working into the 1940s. She was under contract at Samuel Goldwyn (later MGM) and Paramount. The Exquisite Sinner was filmed in 1925 and on set, Von Sternberg was prone to the "Teutonic tantrums" for which he became famous. The film was beautifully shot, but apparently tested poorly with preview audiences, leading MGM to shelve the von Sternberg version. Instead, they brought on a new director and a new script, keeping the same cast and sets, and produced a farce comedy called Heaven on Earth, which was released in 1927. Rumor has it a print exists in the MGM/Turner vaults, but as of this date, it has not been released. These scripts represent a rare opportunity to access von Sternberg's vision for the film.